The meaning of care for elderly individuals aged 80 years or older

Abstract

http://dx.doi.org/10.5216/ree.v14i2.13176

This qualitative study was performed in the light of Martin Heidegger’s phenomenology, with the objective to understand the meaning of care for elderly individuals aged 80 years or older. Participants were 16 elderly individuals older than 80 years, of both genders, members of a Community Center located in Salvador-BA. The participants’ discourses were collected from January-March, 2009. The following themes emerged from the discourses: 1) Experiencing self-care; 2) Understanding the need for care from others; and 3) Experiencing being cared by others. The themes allowed the construction of the Meaning Unit: care is present among the ways of being among elderly individuals aged 80 years or older. In conclusion, considering the new Brazilian aging panorama, nursing care should focus not only on health recovery and rehabilitation, but also on the promotion and prevention of complications founded on health education, respecting individuals’ independence and encouraging participation in the care process.